"'It does. Well, then, don't tell your aunt that I gave you my card, or asked you to come and see me.'
"'I'm fly.'
"Giving him a friendly wink, Sophy went on her knees, and made a pretence of being very hard at work cleaning the grate. The last words he heard were:
"'Pickcher of Sophy wearin' 'erself to skin and bone. Ain't I busy?'"
[CHAPTER X.]
OUR REPORTER GIVES MRS. MIDDLEMORE SOME SENSIBLE ADVICE.
"Rejoining Mrs. Middlemore, our reporter informed her that he was satisfied that Sophy had heard nothing in the night.
"'Of course she didn't,' said Mrs. Middlemore. 'Once she's in bed she lays like a log.'
"'She's a sharp little thing,' observed our reporter.
"'Sharp ain't the word, sir. What's going to be the end of her is more than I can fathom.'